Chewy vs. The Farmer’s Dog 2024: Variety or Quality?

Chewy has a wide quantity of types of dog food, but The Farmer's Dog prioritizes quality. When it comes to canine nutrition, the ingredients in its meals matter greatly. The Farmer's Dog distinguishes itself by using human-grade ingredients to support the overall health and well-being of your furry friend.

It's important to consider that dogs thrive on consistency and may not tolerate frequent dietary changes. The Farmer's Dog recognizes this and offers a personalized approach through an in-depth questionnaire. By considering your dog's age, breed, activity level, and dietary sensitivities, it customizes meals to meet your dog's specific needs. 

I’ll delve deeper into the reasons why The Farmer's Dog is my top choice. With its focus on human-grade quality ingredients, customized meal plans, and commitment to convenience, we’ll unravel the importance of quality over quantity when nourishing your beloved 4-legged companions.

At a Glance: Who Won Each Category?

Ingredient Quality

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog

When it comes to the ingredients used in its meals, The Farmer's Dog outshines Chewy with its fresh and personalized approach. Chewy offers a range of options including fresh, raw, wet, and dry meals. This can be a lot to take in as there’s so much choice as well as making it more confusing to know which brand on Chewy is right for your pup.

The Farmer's Dog provides exclusively fresh meals. By focusing on fresh ingredients, The Farmer's Dog ensures that your furry friend receives the highest quality nutrition for optimal health and vitality.

It sets a high standard by using human-grade ingredients sourced from local farms. Its commitment to quality is evident as it prepares its meals in USDA-approved kitchens, adhering to stringent regulations and ensuring the safety and integrity of the food it provides. 

I like that The Farmer’s Dog also goes the extra mile by using hormone-free meats, ensuring that your pup's meals are free from potentially harmful additives.

Its recipes are also free from fillers like soy, corn, and wheat. These are known to cause allergies and digestive issues in dogs. And there are no artificial flavors, preservatives, or protein "meals." In fact, every recipe is at least 50% whole muscle and organ meat. That just leaves wholesome and nutritious ingredients.

Recipes include superfoods that play a vital role in supporting a dog's health. Examples include ingredients like blueberries, kale, and spinach, which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. These can contribute to immune support, heart health, and overall vitality in dogs.

To illustrate the quality of the ingredients, let's compare 2 similar examples from Chewy and The Farmer’s Dog. 

The Farmer's Dog Beef recipe includes hormone-free beef sourced from local farms, complemented by wholesome ingredients such as lentils and sweet potatoes. This image demonstrates the fresh and visually appealing nature of the ingredients used in The Farmer's Dog meals. 

In comparison, let’s take a look at a similar recipe available on Chewy. These are the ingredients fo ra bestselling wet food beef recipe. Although beef is also the 1st ingredient, you can see that “Pork By-Products” is the 2nd major ingredient. It also includes preservatives, colorings, flavorings, and limited vitamins and minerals.

The Farmer's Dog recipes are formulated under the guidance of veterinary nutritionists, ensuring it meets the highest standards of canine nutrition. This expertise guarantees that each meal is nutritionally balanced, supporting your dog's specific dietary needs and overall health.

Meals and Customization

Winner: Tie

Here, both Chewy and The Farmer's Dog offer unique strengths that make it difficult to declare a clear winner. Chewy shines with its extensive range of recipes and meal types, while The Farmer's Dog excels in providing personalized options and expert guidance from veterinary nutritionists.

Chewy provides an impressive array of recipe options, offering a diverse selection to cater to different preferences and dietary needs of dogs. With its extensive range of brands and flavors, your have the flexibility to choose from a wide variety of meals that align with your dog's taste preferences and dietary restrictions.

In terms of variety, Chewy offers a vast selection of recipes from trusted brands. You can choose from options such as grain-free, limited ingredient, high-protein, and breed-specific recipes, among others. This wide range of choices allows for flexibility and the ability to find meals that best align with your dog's dietary preferences and requirements.

In addition to food, Chewy has plenty of other dog related items available. You can choose from treats, supplements, grooming tools, and even clothing for your pooch. This makes it a convenient shopping experience as you can buy everything you need.

While Chewy excels in recipe variety, The Farmer's Dog's focuses on personalization. The ability to customize meals based on a comprehensive range of factors, along with expert guidance from nutritionists, ensures that dogs receive nutritionally balanced food that caters to their unique needs and health concerns.

Both services have good selections whether you prioritize variety or personalized nutrition. Chewy and The Farmer’s Dog tie this round because they can both meet the specific requirements of your furry companion. 

Ordering and Delivery

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog

When it comes to the ordering and delivery process, The Farmer's Dog is the winner. It offers a streamlined and convenient experience for pet owners.

Ordering on The Farmer's Dog website is straightforward and user-friendly. The website provides a seamless interface that guides you through the customization process, allowing you to input your dog's information, dietary preferences, and specific health concerns. This makes it easy to create a personalized meal plan for your furry friend.

If you need to make changes to an order on The Farmer's Dog, the process is hassle-free. It offers flexibility and allows you to modify your dog's meal plan easily. Whether you need to adjust portion sizes, change recipes, or update delivery dates. 

Ordering on Chewy is more complex because of the amount of products available. Once you have decided, you have the option to make a single purchase or set up auto-shipping. 

Chewy’s auto subscription option allows you to select items you need regularly, such as pet food, treats, medications, and grooming supplies, and set up a customized delivery schedule. Choose how frequently you want your orders to be delivered depending on your pet's needs. You also get a discount on repeat orders. 

In terms of delivery, The Farmer's Dog ships to the 48 contiguous states. This means pet owners across the country can access its service. Additionally, it offers multiple delivery days throughout the week, providing convenience and flexibility to suit different schedules. 

Chewy also delivers to the contiguous US, but expect to wait 1 to 3 days for delivery. The auto-shipping option helps avoid shipping delays, but Chewy is overall less reliable than The Farmer’s Dog in this category.

How Do the Meals Arrive?

Winner: The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer's Dog stands out by offering pre-portioned meals. Each meal is individually sized based on your dog's specific needs, removing the guesswork and hassle of measuring. This portioning system ensures that dogs receive the appropriate serving size, promoting balanced nutrition and portion control.

Its fresh meals need to be stored in the refrigerator due to their perishable nature. The instructions specify the need for refrigeration, so meals remain fresh and safe for consumption. You can store open packages in the fridge for up to 4 days and in the freezer for up to 4 months.

The Farmer’s Dog also prioritizes sustainability by minimizing environmental impact. Its eco-friendly packaging showcases its commitment to both the well-being of dogs and the planet. The delivery box is recyclable, packets are BPA-free, and insulation used for cooling is biodegradable.

Chewy’s meals are delivered in recyclable cardboard packaging too. Things are different if you order both shelf-stable and frozen food, as the frozen items are shipped separately. This means making an additional delivery trip. 

You will need to portion Chewy’s meals yourself according to each brand’s instructions. This can be more time consuming as you will need to figure out the appropriate portion for your pooch. The Farmer’s Dog makes it really easy as it does all of this for you. 

Pricing

Winner: Chewy

Chewy takes the lead in terms of pricing, offering competitive rates for pet food and related products. Chewy offers affordable options for both smaller and larger breeds. In terms of actual costs, it varies wildly depending on the brand you choose and if you sign up for autoship.

For example, you can expect to pay from $4.29 for a 1 lb bag of dry food to $199.98 for a 50 lb bag of premium dry food. These prices provide an estimation and may vary based on factors such as brand, portion size, any current deals, or if you select auto-shipment.

Chewy also offers a wide variety of add-ons, including treats, at various price points to suit different budgets. The pricing for treats can range from a few dollars for basic options to higher-end treats. Chewy regularly offers deals and promotions, so it's worth keeping an eye out for discounts on treats or bundling options that can help save money.

There’s no minimum order for Chewy, but you need to spend over $49 for free shipping. It also offers a hassle-free return and refund process. Just reach out to Chewy's customer service, and you can find help with any issues, including providing a refund or offering alternative options.

The Farmer’s Dog is a premium fresh food retailer so prices can work out more. Costs will depend on the size of your dog and their dietary needs. It also has a much, much smaller selection of treats and toys than Chewy, as it only sells its own fresh food.

For a small dog, let’s take a 6 lb Chihuahua, a meal plan will cost $2.54 per day after the initial 2-week trial. A large dog, like a 60 lb Bernese Mountain Dog is $9.46 after the 2-week trial period. The larger the dog, the more you can expect to pay. Shipping is free on all orders.

Features Comparison: Chewy vs. The Farmer’s Dog

And The Winner Is: The Farmer’s Dog

The Farmer's Dog is easily our top choice if you’re seeking exceptional quality and personalized meals for your dog. With its human-grade ingredients, tailored meal plans, and expert guidance from veterinary nutritionists, The Farmer's Dog ensures optimal nutrition and a customized feeding experience. 

Chewy is less reliable as a source of premium fresh food, but it can be much cheaper. It also offers a much wider range of food options and brands for you to explore. Plus, only Chewy has a marketplace for toys and other goodies. 

The Farmer's Dog and Chewy offer distinct advantages depending on your priorities and budget. Chewy is a viable budget option that caters to a wider range of dogs. Ultimately, your choice depends on your preferences, budget, and the type of food your pup prefers. If fresh food is your favorite, take a look at our top 10 fresh dog food delivery options.

FAQ

Is The Farmer's Dog more expensive than Chewy?

The Farmer's Dog generally comes at a higher price point compared to Chewy. The Farmer's Dog focuses on high-quality, human-grade ingredients and personalized meal plans, which can contribute to a slightly higher cost. Chewy, on the other hand, offers more budget-friendly options, making it a suitable choice for those looking for affordability.

Does Chewy offer customization options like The Farmer's Dog?

Chewy may not provide the same level of customization as The Farmer's Dog. The Farmer's Dog's questionnaire allows for a more tailored approach, taking into account factors such as weight, breed, age, activity level, and health concerns.

Is The Farmer’s Dog and Chewy suitable for dogs with allergies?

Yes, both Chewy and The Farmer's Dog offer options for dogs with allergies. Chewy provides a variety of specialized diets and formulas, while The Farmer's Dog's questionnaire helps tailor meals to meet your dog's specific requirements. Simply select relevant allergies when you sign up.